Bogota: FIFA has approved the use of video assistant referees (VARs) in this year's World Cup in Russia, the international football governing body has said.

The technology was approved by rule-making board IFAB earlier this month but FIFA was yet to ratify its use for football's showpiece tournament, which will be played in Russia from June 14 to July 15.

"We are going to have our first World Cup with video assisted refereeing," FIFA President Gianni Infantino told reporters on Friday after a meeting of FIFA's ruling council in Bogota, Xinhua news agency reported.

"This has been adopted and approved and we are extremely happy with that decision. It's an essential decision, very important and historical decision."

VAR allows officials to review and overturn referee decisions for incidents including goals, penalty awards, red cards and mistaken identity.

The system has been used in Germany's Bundesliga and Italy's Serie A this season as well as some English FA and League Cup matches. It was also trialled during the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia.

Infantino accepted the VAR was "not perfect", but said it ensured "a fairer and more transparent sport".

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Shahjahanpur (UP), May 18 (PTI): Police found a woman's body stuffed inside a large suitcase at her residence here on Sunday after her family claimed that she had committed suicide, officials said.

The 32-year-old woman's husband claimed that she died by hanging herself with a scarf, and that he removed the body and placed it inside the suitcase fearing action by police, they said.

Other family members, including the couple's children, corroborated the husband's claims.

Superintendent of Police Rajesh Dwivedi told PTI that the body of Savita, wife of Ashok Kumar, was found inside a suitcase at her house in Tilhar town.

According to Dwivedi, the woman’s brother-in-law informed police that she had allegedly died by suicide.

However, when a police team reached the spot, they found her body concealed inside a suitcase.

Preliminary examination showed marks around her neck, they said, adding that the body had not yet decomposed, the SP said.

During questioning, Savita’s husband claimed that she committed suicide by hanging herself with her scarf. He also claimed fearing action against him, he removed the body and placed it inside the suitcase, police said.

Dwivedi added that this version of events was corroborated by the couple’s two children. However, the act of concealing the body in a suitcase raised suspicions, he said.

The body has been sent for post-mortem, and an investigation is underway. Legal action will be taken against anyone found guilty, the SP added.